The Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers for Swimming: Reviewed and Ranked

Physical fitness has become key in the modern age, and many people are embracing the need for healthy living. Being fit helps control your weight, reduce the risk of disease, improve mental health, and the ability to carry out daily activities.

Besides going to the gym, jogging, and biking, swimming is one of the best physical activities for cardiovascular exercise and helps you build endurance. If you want to monitor your swimming performance, a waterproof fitness watch is of great help.

One crucial feature of a swimming fitness tracker is water resistance. Since most of your workout activities will be in the water, you need a tracker that can withstand the water depth.

Other factors you need to consider are the ability to track heart rate, stroke count, distance traveled, and more. Here are the 6 best waterproof fitness trackers for every budget and need.

Top Picks: Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers

Best Overall: Garmin Forerunner 945

Best Overall

Garmin Forerunner 945, Premium GPS Running/Triathlon Smartwatch with Music, Black

$379.00

• Premium GPS running/triathlon smartwatch with music
• Download songs to your watch, including playlists from Spotify, Amazon Music, or Deezer (may require a premium subscription with a third-party music provider)
• Performance monitoring features include Vo2 Max and training status with adjustments for heat, altitude Acclimation status, training load focus, recovery time, and aerobic and anaerobic training effects
• Garmin Pay contactless payment solution (available for supported cards from participating banks) lets you make convenient payments with your watch so you can leave your cash and cards at home
• Full color, onboard maps guide you on your run so you never get lost during your workout
• Safety and tracking features include incident detection (during select activities) which sends your real-time location to emergency contacts through your paired compatible smartphone
• Battery life: Up to 2 weeks in smartwatch mode, 10 hours in GPS mode with music, or up to 60 hours in UltraTrac mode. Display resolution - 240 x 240 pixels

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03/03/2023 05:44 am GMT

The Garmin Forerunner 945 is one of the best waterproof fitness trackers for swimming. It is one of the few watches that can correctly monitor heart rate underwater, making it a perfect addition for serious heart rate training because it can detect changes more quickly than a sensor on your wrist.

Additionally, it has a built-in audio player, so you can use a set of waterproof headphones to listen to your favorite tunes while swimming. It also offers various monitoring functions specifically designed for swimming, such as distance (with GPS monitoring), pace, stroke count/rate, the stroke distance and efficiency, and calories burned.

There are even more options for pool sessions, including drill logging, auto rest, stroke type identification, pacing alerts, and customized pool workouts (which can be downloaded to the watch over Wi-Fi).

Other features include safety and tracking, sleep score and advanced sleep monitoring, Livetrack, smart notifications, women’s health tracking, and more. This watch is fantastic in the water and out, thanks to the wide variety of other fitness monitoring capabilities and smartwatch features like contactless payments.

Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Watersports: Coros Vertix 2

Best for Outdoor Sports

COROS VERTIX 2 Watch

$699.00

• New interface with three offline mapping options
• More accurate GPS for easier navigation
• Powerful chipset and 20% faster processor
• Solid construction with scratch-resistant bezel

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04/27/2023 08:49 pm GMT

A robust multi-sports watch like the Coros Vertix 2 is an excellent option for swimming, especially if you’re going on vacation and won’t be able to charge it frequently. Whether you’re on foot, on a bike, or in the water, the Vertix 2 can maintain tracking for up to 140 hours with GPS enabled or 240 in Ultramax mode (or all three, with the multi-sport triathlon mode).

The 1.48-inch always-on display is large, clear, and high resolution, making it easy to monitor your training stats quickly. It is largely controlled by physical buttons rather than a touchscreen which is vital for wet hands. The Vertix 2 can track your heart rate correctly while you swim, which sets it apart from most sports watches.

Although it’s a remarkable swimming watch, the original Coros Vertix, which has a better water resistance rating of 15 ATM, is preferable if you like high-speed water activities or high diving.

Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Heart Rate Monitoring: Garmin Vivoactive 4

Best for Heart Rate Monitoring

Garmin Vivoactive 4, GPS Smartwatch, Features Music, Body Energy Monitoring, Animated Workouts, Pulse Ox Sensors and More, Black

$199.99

• Keeps track of your energy levels, Pulse Ox (this is not a medical device and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or monitoring of any medical condition), respiration, menstrual cycle, stress, sleep, estimated heart, hydration, and more
• Easily download songs to your watch, including playlists from Spotify, Amazon Music or Deezer (may require a premium subscription with a third-party music provider), and connect with headphones (sold separately) for phone-free listening
• Record all the ways to move with more than 20 preloaded GPS and indoor sports apps, including yoga, running, swimming, and more
• Get easy-to-follow, animated workouts right on your watch screen, including cardio, strength, yoga, and Pilates
• Battery life: Up to 8 days in smartwatch mode; Up to 6 hours in GPS and music mode
• Personalize your watch with thousands of free watch faces, apps, and widgets from our Connect IQ store
• Safety and tracking features include incident detection (during select activities) and assistance (when paired with a compatible device), which both send your real-time location to emergency contacts

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If you’re interested in tracking health data, Garmin Vivoactive 4 is a fantastic pick. Its sensors monitor your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, stress, and energy throughout the day.

Gamin also features preloaded activity apps to track activities such as cycling, yoga, golf, running, swimming, and strength exercises. More features can be added using the Connect IQ smartphone app.

Music lovers can download playlists from Spotify and Amazon music and use Bluetooth headphones to listen to music from their watches. With just a tap, you can get many easy-to-follow animated workouts on your screen, such as yoga, cardio, strength, and pilates. 

Additionally, it has a rest timer, a swim efficiency rating, and stroke type detection, which is ideal if you’re interested in a fitness tracker designed exclusively for swimming. The watch, which has a 50-meter water resistance rating, gives details on each swimming interval.

With LiveTrack, you can update your loved ones on how you’re doing throughout a race or other activity. Advanced tracking capabilities on the Garmin Vivoactive 4 include Sleep Monitoring, Activity Tracking, and Stress Level Monitoring.

This implies that it can monitor your sleep patterns, activity levels, and stress levels throughout the day. With these features, you can ensure that you are leading a healthier lifestyle.

Best Budget Waterproof Fitness Tracker: Fitbit Inspire 2

Best Budget Option

Fitbit Inspire 2 Health & Fitness Tracker with a Free 1-Year Fitbit Premium Trial, 24/7 Heart Rate, Black/Black, One Size (S & L Bands Included)

$55.00

• Optimize your workouts with a Daily Readiness Score that reveals if you’re ready to exercise or should focus on recover (requires Fitbit Premium membership. Premium content recommendations are not available in all locales and may be in English only)
• Earn active zone minutes as you progress toward your weekly 150 minutes of heart-pumping activity and use 20+ exercise modes to track goals like distance, calories burned and more
• Track all-day activity: your steps, distance, hourly activity and calories burned
• Use 24/7 heart rate to track resting heart rate better measure calorie burn
• Enjoy 10 days of battery life for daily progress without constant charging varies with use and other factors

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03/03/2023 05:44 am GMT

Fitbit is known for its wireless-enabled wearable technology and fitness trackers. Fitbit Inspire 2 is an excellent choice for budget-conscious users. This watch is water-resistant up to 50 meters, so it may be worn when swimming in a pool or open water. It also features a swim tracking feature that allows you to track laps, hourly activity, distance, and calories burned during a swimming session.

The tracker also has a 10-day battery life and 24/7 heart rate tracking to detect calorie burn and resting heart rate. You’ll also be able to measure your sleep quality every night and receive a Sleep Score to assess how well you sleep. It also has active zone minutes, 20+ workout modes, call, text, calendar, smartphone app notifications, and stimulating challenges and badges.

The Fitbit Inspire 2’s connectivity with the Fitbit app is another fantastic feature. You may use the app to track progress, set objectives, and view your metrics in real-time. It also delivers individualized insights and suggestions to assist you in reaching your fitness objectives.

Best for Tracking Distance: Apple Watch Ultra

Best for Tracking Distance

Apple Watch Ultra [GPS + Cellular 49mm] Smart Watch w/Rugged Titanium Case & Yellow Ocean Band. Fitness Tracker, Precision GPS, Action Button, Extra-Long Battery Life, Brighter Retina Display

$779.99

• WHY APPLE WATCH ULTRA — Rugged and capable, built to meet the demands of endurance athletes, outdoor adventurers, and water sports enthusiasts — with a specialized band for each. Up to 36 hours of battery life, plus all the Apple Watch features that help you stay healthy, safe, and connected.
• EXTREMELY RUGGED, INCREDIBLY CAPABLE — 49mm corrosion-resistant titanium case. Larger Digital Crown and more accessible buttons. 100m water resistance. Customizable Action button for instant physical control over a variety of functions.
• BIGGEST, BRIGHTEST DISPLAY YET— A bright Always-On Retina display that’s easy to see, even in direct sunlight. More room for adding complications to customize your watch face.
• FOR ENDURANCE ATHLETES — Advanced metrics in the Workout app, including Heart Rate Zones and Running Form. Precision dual-frequency GPS for accuracy, distance, route, and pace calculations. The Trail Loop band is thin, light, and flexible, designed especially for runners.
• FOR OUTDOOR ADVENTURERS — Redesigned Compass app delivers all-new views and functionality. Mark your location with Compass Waypoints. Backtrack uses GPS to map where you’ve been so you can retrace your steps. The Alpine Loop band is extremely rugged and secure to meet the needs of hikers and climbers.
• FOR WATER SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS — Made for high-impact water sports and diving. The Oceanic+ app puts a dive computer on your wrist. Ocean Band is light and flexible, with a titanium buckle and adjustable loop for a secure fit even during high-speed water sports.
• MOST ADVANCED HEALTH AND SAFETY FEATURES — Advanced health sensors give you deep insights into your health. Fall Detection and Crash Detection can automatically connect you with emergency services in the event of a hard fall or a severe car crash. Hold the Action button to activate a siren that can be heard up to 600 feet away.

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Apple watches are popular for their sleek design and solid health-tracking capabilities. Their latest release, the Apple Watch Ultra, is no exception. It packs incredible features with unrivaled performance and durability.

The Apple Watch Ultra is an excellent option for watersports enthusiasts who want to track their swimming distance accurately. It’s one of the greatest smartwatches on the market, with a longer battery life than other Apple Watches at 36 hours.

With its waterproof rating of up to 100 m, you can be sure that this watch will keep up with you in all types of swimming conditions. The watch also has built-in GPS, so you can track your swims and see the time and distance you’ve traveled.

It contains additional swimming monitoring capabilities, such as a SWOLF score, which compares your strokes to the time it takes you to swim one length of the pool. For divers, its brand-new Oceanic+ app is a fantastic choice. The Apple Watch Ultra is an exceptional wristwatch with excellent GPS and fantastic fitness tracking, but it is pricey.

Best Waterproof Fitness Tracker for Hardcore Swimmers: Garmin Swim 2

Best for Hardcore Swimmers

Garmin Swim 2 GPS Swimming Smartwatch

$249.81

• GPS swimming smartwatch for the pool and open water
• Battery life: up to 7 days in smartwatch mode, 13 hours in GPS and optical heart rate (OHR) mode, and 72 hours in the pool and OHR mode
• Pool swim mode: records distance, pace, stroke count, stroke type, and SWOLF (gauges swimming efficiency)
• Open-water swim mode: uses built-in GPS for swims in lakes, oceans or rivers; records distance, pace, stroke count, SWOLF, stroke rate, and stroke distance
• Offers advanced features for staying on pace, logging drills, and more
• Includes free online analysis, custom workout creation, storage, and sharing on Garmin Connect online community
• Connected features (paired with a compatible smartphone) include smart notifications and automatic uploads to our Garmin Connect online community
• Monitors underwater estimated wrist-based heart rate during swim activities

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If you’re a serious swimmer who wants to track your pool and open-water sessions, the Garmin Swim 2 is an excellent choice. The wrist-based heart rate monitor that works underwater is its highlight feature, making it simple to keep track of your efforts throughout exercises.

It automatically measures distance, pace, and stroke count, and has the SWOLF score to track your swimming efficiency. Swim training is made easier with rest timers and drill log functions.

It is suitable for most swimming and snorkeling activities and diving into the ocean and is water-resistant up to 50 meters. It can even be worn when showering and operates in temperatures ranging from -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. The app lets you see detailed metrics to track your daily workout progress.

The watch monitors your resting heart rate, stress levels, and sleep in everyday life. It can also receive smartphone notifications such as SMS, alarms, and emails, which is ideal if you want to stay connected and updated on what’s happening around you. Its features are useful both in and out of water.

How to Pick the Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers For Swimming: Step by Step

When shopping for a waterproof fitness tracker for swimming, you want to ensure you are getting one that matches the functions and capabilities you need, keeps you motivated, and checks all the swimming metrics. The key factors to consider include:

• Water Resistance,
• Battery Life,
• Additional Features,
• Design and Comfort,
• Pricing.

Let’s look at each one in more detail.

Water Resistance

Since the watch will mostly operate in water, you need one that can withstand the water pressure. Different fitness watches have different water resistance ratings, so be keen to check. Some can handle shallow depths, while others are designed for deeper levels and are suitable for divers.

Most swimming fitness watches come with a water resistance rating of up to 5 ATM, meaning they can resist a pressure of 50 meters, while others are rated at 3 ATM, meaning they resist the pressure of 30 meters and should not be immersed in water.

Battery Life

When swimming, you want to be sure that your watch battery can last your swimming sessions without running out of juice. A long battery life ensures you capture all the swim metrics and monitor your progress, especially during training.

Look for a watch with a battery life of at least seven days or more when in use and, ideally, one that can last even longer in standby mode.

Additional Features

Every watch has different features unique to the model. As technology advances, manufacturers continually upgrade their offerings to meet the demand for comprehensive fitness trackers. For instance, the newest Apple Watch Ultra has significant improvements over the Series 8, such as extended battery life, a larger display, and a new Oceanic+ app ideal for diving.

If you want to monitor your heart rate, select a watch with heart rate monitors to track your heart rate while swimming and provide valuable data on your performance. Garmin Vivoactive 4 is well-rated for underwater heart rate monitoring.

Other features like sleep monitors allow you to monitor your sleep habits and give you helpful advice on getting a better night’s rest. Calendars allow you to schedule workouts and other events to stay organized and on top of your fitness goals.

GPS will enable you to track your route and distance, which can be useful for training and race planning. For comprehensive security, look for watches with fall and crash detection so they can withstand the falls of everyday use.

Design and Comfort

Swim watches come in all styles, materials, and features. You want a watch that is comfortable to wear for long periods in the water and can withstand the elements. You also want a fashionable design that complements your style and attitude. Some are made with robust aluminum casing and rubber straps that offer maximum comfort for long swim sessions.

Good-quality rubber straps are available in various unobtrusive styles that complement most casual and semi-casual outfits. They are entirely waterproof, dry rapidly, and prove incredibly soft and comfortable on the wrist. Rubber’s flexibility allows your wrist to be free for delicate underwater operations, making them very helpful for scuba divers.

Canvas and nylon bands are also options to consider. The face should be large enough to readily read the time and any other data you want to track while swimming. Backlights and digital displays, for example, can help ensure that the watch can be read even in low-light settings.

Pricing

For most buyers, price is a key determinant of the fitness watches they choose. It is important to consider your budget and what features are important to you before making a purchase.

What to Know Before Buying a Waterproof Fitness Tracker

The first thing you need to know is the purpose of the watch. There is no need to go for the high-end models if you only need to measure your swim distance occasionally. However, if you are keen on training or watersports, you need a robust fitness watch to track vital swim metrics.

If you want to track other activities, such as running, cycling, and walking, ensure the look you go for has all those features. Ultimately, your needs come first before everything else. Write those down before you begin your search.

Using the Best Waterproof Fitness Trackers: What it’s Like

Using a waterproof fitness tracker for swimming can be rewarding and frustrating at the same time. Getting the right watch can feel like having an all-in-one personal trainer and coach on your wrist. You can easily track your swims with metrics like stroke rate, heart rate, calorie burn, and pool lengths.

Some smartwatches also let you access audio coaching or in-app workouts to get the most out of your swim. However, if the watch does not offer some of the features you need, not having all the information you need at the end of your swimming sessions can be frustrating. Other watches have poor displays, so you may not view notifications or emails.